Display rack



Jan. 29, 1929. 4 1,700,212 K J. L, ARLT DISPLAY RACK Filed March 24, 1927 v JOAR z. d??? loose parts,

the rack is so. made thatnearly all its parts I subjected in. ordinary use,

PatentahJ an. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. 1mm, or saenvnw, 00.. or SAGINAW,

DISPIiAY BACK.

Application filed March 24, 1927. Serial No. 1f8,065.

This invention has for-its object to produce an improved means for holding and displaying goods of different kinds in groups of obliquely arranged cases, boxes, cans or the like in such a way that they are readily accessible and observable,

An object of the invention is to provide a rackthat can be easily and quickly assembled by a user without mechanical skill and that can be put together without the aid of special tools and W1 h a minimum of small such as bolts, etc. To that end can be assembled together by push-fitting certain flanges into engagementwith certain co-operating spring clips. This method of assembly applies not only to the sides and shelves of the rack, but also to' the completed rack and a rolling truck upon which the rack can be mounted when desired. v Another object of the invention is to provide a display rack of light weight, yet of great strength and rigidity, so as to enableit to support heavy weights if need be, and to withstand the strains to which such racks are such as being moved from place to place and being loaded and unloaded.

This construction also enables the rack to be produced in quantities, inexpensively and with a minimum waste of material. For that purpose its parts are so designed as to be' capable of being easily formed up by using the shears and brakes which are a part of the ordinary commercial sheet metal works, rendering special dies and expensive tools unnecessary.

A further object of the invention isto produoe a rack having all of the above oharacteristics, yet capable of being quickly knocked down for shipment in very compact form. With the foregoing and certain other obeots in view,

vices described and claimed and the equivalents thereof.

In the accompan ing drawings one form of the display rack o the invention is shown in Fig. 1 in perspective view, broken away in part. i Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the side members.

the inner face of Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of rack embodying the invention.

which will appearlater in the specifications, my invention comprises the de-' Figs. 4 and 5 are part sectional detail views of the shelf and bar support clips.

Fig.6 1s a 1, by which the base frame or truck is removably fastened to the side members of the rack.

B 1g. 7- is a diagrammatic cross sectional view on line 77 ofFig. 3'.

fragmentary detail view of the slip oint connection taken on line 6-45, Fig.

so I

Fig. 8 is asectional detail on line 88 of Fig. 1.

The details of the structure as shown in the drawings disclose a display case comprising two flanged sheet metal side members 1, .1 removably secured together by a longitudinal shelf 2, the latter having its front and back edges 2 and its ends 2* flanged out of the plane of the shelf face. Each shelf 2 has a jmembers 5 that are fixed by riveting or otherwise to the side members. Each shelf has a downwardly projecting flange (Sat its end adapted to be received between the lip of the spring clip 5 and the fiat face of the side member.

Similarly the cross stay 3 wardly flanged to engage with clip members 8 onthe side members 1, 1.

' The rack may be made with only one shelf- 2, as shown. in Fig. .3, or with a plurality of provided with the top piece 9, Fig. 3, in the generalshape of a rectangular frame having has ends downshelves, as in Fig. 1.. The rack is preferably H downwardly projecting flanges 10 at its ends to receive the top edges of the side members 1, 1. The top piece may be formed with an opening 11, the side walls 12 that form the.

boundaries of the opening being inclined downwardly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, so that the top piece'itself forms means. for supporting, in an inclined position, articles to be displayed.

If the rack is desired to be portable Imount it on a base frame 13 havin casters 14 thereon, and to facilitate assemb ing I provide an interlocking slip joint construction by which the base-frame can be quickly attached to and removed from the rack proper. A detail of such a joint is shown in Fig. 6, which is an enlarged sectional detail on line 66 of Fig.-

1, the construction being as follows:

The bottom edge of each side member 1 is formed with an inwardly projecting flange 1, and the angle iron which forms the back member of the truck 13 is formed With a longitudinal saw kerf or slit 15 -to receive the flange 1 the horizontal leg 15 being bent up at its end, as shown. Thus the back member 15 of the truck frame can be attached to the rack by merely sliding the truck horizontally until the flange 1 enters the L shaped slot 15 formed, as above described in the back member 15.

Diagonal braces 16 are hinged, as at 17, to

, the members 15 and are fastened, as at 18,

by bolts or otherwise, to the back flanges of side members 1, 1. F or compactness in ship ping the braces 16 are hinged intermediate their ends, as at 19, so as to fold upon the base frame when not in use.

The canisters or other articles to be displayed can be arranged in oifset relation, as

' shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, or by placing the clips 5, 8 at any othe desired inclination. The fronts of the'con ainers may e given a greater orless degree of offset, or may be arranged with their faces all in the same plane, as may be desired.

Various modifications in details of construction may be made to suit individual conditions, and different kindsof goods to be displayed, without departing from my invention as set forth in the claims. For example, the shape of the shelf may be modified as shown in Fig. 8, where the shelf is troughshaped and flanged downwardly at'its back edge 20. Each side of the shelf trough is supported by a spring clip 20*, 20*. ,If the top shelf, for example, is not needed, a flat cover 21 is used. When the top shelf is needed the cover 21 can be removed and hung by its front flange 21 from the back edge 20 of the shelf, as shown at the left in Fig. 8.

I have described the invention as embodied though it has many other uses, such, for example, as a portable book case used as a desk convenience by attorneys andothers for t'emporarily holding reference books and papers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and Patent is:

1. A display rack comprising spaced side members connected by atop piece having end flanges adapted to releasably interlock with the upper edges of said side members and having a central canister-receiving opening extending lengthwise, the longitudinal boundary walls of the opening inclined downwardly for positioning canisters in tilted position, a series of supporting bars and aseparate series of shelves independent of said bars, said shelves and bars removably mounted in pairsone above the other on said side members, a base frame made up of members of L-shaped section, and having casters thereon, and also having interlocking slip joints adapted to releasa-bly secure said base frame and side members together, and diagonal braces hinged to said base frame and secured E0 the back upright edges of said side memers.

2. A rack of the kharacter described comdesire to secure by Letters prising a pair of side members, a series of supporting bars and a separate series of shelves removably mounted in pairs on said side members, a base frame having casters, and having slip jointmembers adapted to releasably' secure said base frame and said rack together. I

3. A display rack structure as set forth in claim 2 .and having diagonal braces secured to and extending across the back of the rack, said braces hinged between their ends to fold upon each other and upon the base extending lengthwise, the side Walls that Q form the front and back boundaries of the canister opening in said top lnclmed downwardly and inwardly. for holding canisters in tilted position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

' JOHN L. ARLT. 

